by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

SURPRISE, Ariz. â?? The World Series has just ended, but that only means the 2014 fantasy baseball season is right around the corner.

However, the annual First Pitch Arizona fantasy baseball symposium is one of the best ways to get a jump start on preparations for the upcoming season. The conference brings together dozens of industry experts, MLB scouts and some of the best young players in the game for three days' worth of equal parts stats and scouting.

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend was Saturday's Fall Stars Game â?? in which the top prospects in the Arizona Fall League assembled at Surprise Stadium to display their talents.

With a record 6,529 people in attendance, first baseman Brett Nicholas of the Texas Rangers had three hits, including a pair of home runs, to lead the West team to a 9-2 victory over the East and earn game MVP honors.

Winning pitcher Alex Meyer of the Minnesota Twins looked very good in tossing three scoreless innings against an East squad that featured the top two hitters in the AFL, Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs and C. J. Cron of the Los Angeles Angels.

Bryant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft, came into the game leading the AFL in home runs (six), RBI (17), runs scored (17) and slugging percentage (.870). Cron was tops in the league with a .400 average, with 20 hits in 50 at-bats.

But Meyer, who came to the Twins from the Washington Nationals in the Denard Span trade last offseason, was up to the task. Bryant and Cron both had a single in four at-bats. Bryant did score a run, but made a pair of errors at third base.

Perhaps the one player fantasy owners should be most excited about, Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, also went 1-for-4 and stole a base. During the just-completed minor league season, Buxton hit a combined .334 with 12 homers, 109 runs scored, 77 RBI and 55 stolen bases at Low-A Cedar Rapids (Iowa) and High-A Fort Myers (Fla.).

Buxton was only hitting .233 in the Fall League with three home runs and eight RBI, but his combination of power and speed â?? plus the fact that he doesn't turn 20 for another six weeks â?? will have him ranked No. 1 on many minor league prospect lists this season.

Other highlights:

Seattle Mariners outfielder Stefen Romero didn't start the game, but he homered in both of his plate appearances and drove in three runs.

New York Yankees outfielder Mason Williams also went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges, considered perhaps the top defensive catcher in the minors, threw out both runners who attempted to steal against him.

Right hander Aaron Sanchez of the Toronto Blue Jays started the game for the East. He allowed two hits and a walk in two shutout innings.

Buxton, Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell (0-for-2) of the Oakland A's have generally received the best reviews from the professional scouts and the fantasy owners at the conference. Meyer also opened some eyes with his powerful repertoire on the mound, and his departure from the type of pitcher most associated with the Twins.